Taxes & Fees: Burlington vs Waltham
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Burlington, MA and Waltham, MA?
Burlington and Waltham have similar restriction levels.
Burlington, MA
Middlesex County
Middlesex County short-term rentals under 32 days must collect the 5.7% Massachusetts state room occupancy excise plus local option taxes up to 6%, community impact fees, and convention center surcharges.
View full Burlington rules →Waltham, MA
Middlesex County
Waltham short-term rentals are subject to the 5.7 percent Massachusetts state room occupancy excise plus the 6 percent local option under MGL c.64G, totaling 11.7 percent per booking.
View full Waltham rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Burlington | Waltham |
|---|---|---|
| State excise | 5.7% | - |
| Local option | Up to 6% | - |
| Community Impact Fee | Up to 3% | - |
| Convention Center | 2.75% (Cambridge) | - |
| Total (Cambridge) | Up to 17.45% | - |
| State Excise | - | 5.7 percent |
| Waltham Local | - | 6 percent |
| Total Rate | - | 11.7 percent |
| Remittance | - | Monthly via MassTaxConnect |
| Community Impact | - | Up to 3 percent if 2+ units |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Burlington FAQ
What taxes apply to my Middlesex County STR?
All stays under 32 days owe 5.7% state excise plus up to 6% local tax, plus a possible 3% Community Impact Fee and 2.75% convention center fee in Cambridge.
Who remits the STR taxes?
The operator or intermediary (like Airbnb) files monthly with the MA Department of Revenue via MassTaxConnect. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit on behalf of hosts in most cases.
Waltham FAQ
What is the total tax rate on my Waltham STR?
Guests pay 11.7 percent (5.7 state plus 6 local), collected by the platform or host and remitted to MA DOR.
Does Airbnb collect the tax for me?
Yes, Airbnb and similar platforms collect and remit the state and local excise on registered Massachusetts hosts.
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